Run-Time Limitations of Software Applications Based on User Characteristics

1. A method of operating a computing device including a data storage device and a processor, comprising: storing user information identifying a current user of the computing device and an age category of the current user, said storing being performed by an application manager module provided by a first software provider; executing with the processor a plurality of software applications, wherein each software application is programmed to operate in a first mode for use by users in a first age category and a second mode for use by users in a second age category; and upon execution of each of the plurality of software applications, providing to the corresponding executing software application information indicating the age category of the current user; wherein a first one of the plurality of software applications is provided by a second software provider and a second one of the plurality of software applications is provided by a third software provider.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon execution of each of the plurality of software applications: when the current user is of a first age corresponding to the first age category, transmitting personally-identifiable information regarding the current user to the software application; and when the current user is of a second age corresponding to the second age category, said second age being less than the first age, personally-identifiable information regarding the current user is not transmitted to the software application.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of software applications: when the current user is of a first age corresponding to the first age category, the software application enables transmission of data from the computing device to other computing devices; and when the current user is of a second age corresponding to the second age category, said second age being less than the first age, the software application prevents transmission of data from the computing device to other computing devices.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said transmission of data from the computing device to other computing devices comprises one or more of: transmission of information regarding the current user's identity, transmission of information regarding the current user's use of the computing device, or transmission of a message from the current user to another user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the first age category comprises a first age range and the second age category comprises a second age range, wherein the second age range corresponds to a younger age range than the first age range.

6. A method of operating a computing device including a storage component and a processing component, comprising: executing, using the processing component, a first software application programmed to operate in a first mode for use by users in a first profile category and a second mode for use by users in a second profile category; providing to the first software application profile information regarding a current user, said profile information indicative of a profile category of the current user; operating the first software application, wherein the first software application operates in the first mode when the profile information indicates that the current user meets the first profile category, and the first software application operates in second first mode when the profile information indicates that the current user meets the second profile category; and executing, using the processing component, a second software application programmed to operate in a first mode for use by the first profile category and a second mode for use by the second profile category, wherein said first software application is provided by a first software provider and said second software application is provided by a second software provider different than the first software provider.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first mode results in delivery by the first software application of content suitable for the first profile category, and said second mode results in delivery by the first software application of content suitable for the second profile category.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein: when operating the first software application in the first mode, providing information identifying the current user to the first software application; and when operating the first software application in the second mode, not providing information identifying the current user to the first software application.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first profile category comprises a first age range and the second profile category comprises a second age range, wherein the second age range corresponds to a younger age range than the first age range.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising storing user information indicating a current user of the computing device using an application manager module.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising transmitting information regarding the user from the computing device to another computing device when operating the first software application in the first mode and not when operating the first software application in the second mode.

12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising transmitting data from the computing device to another computing device when operating the first software application in the first mode and not when operating the first software application in the second mode.

13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising storing information regarding the current user after termination of execution of the first software application when operating the first software application in the first mode and not when operating the first software application in the second mode.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein said second mode prevents display of advertising content by the first software application to the current user.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting to an advertising service information regarding advertising content not displayed during operation in the second mode.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein said second mode prevents use of location-based services by the first software application or prevents purchases of goods and services by the current user via the first software application.

17. The method of claim 6 , wherein said profile information comprises information relating to an age of the current user or an age range of the current user.

18. The method of claim 6 , further comprising executing an application manager module using the processing component, wherein if the current user meets the second profile category, said application manager module prohibits access by the first software application to one or more software services of the computing device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said one or more software services comprise at least one of: telecommunications services, camera operation, and Global Positioning System (GPS) operation.

20. The method of claim 6 , wherein said operating the first software application comprises operating the first software application at a first difficulty level when operating in the first mode, and operating the first software application at a second difficulty level when operating in the second mode.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein: said first profile category corresponds to a first age range; said second profile category corresponds to a first age range; said first difficulty level corresponds to a difficulty targeted for the first age range; and said second difficulty level corresponds to a difficulty targeted for the second age range.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein: said first profile category corresponds to a first performance level; said second profile category corresponds to a second performance level; and said profile information provided to the first software application is determined based on the current user's prior interaction with the first software application.

23. A computing device, comprising: a display; a processing component; and a computer-readable memory storing computer-executable instructions which when executed cause the processing component to perform a method comprising: executing, using the processing component, a first software application programmed to operate in a first mode for use by a first profile category and a second mode for use by a second profile category; providing to the first software application profile information regarding a current user, said profile information indicative of a profile category of the current user; operating the first software application, wherein the first software application operates in the first mode when the profile information indicates that the current user meets the first profile category, and the first software application operates in second first mode when the profile information indicates that the current user meets the second profile category; and executing, using the processing component, a second software application programmed to operate in a first mode for use by the first profile category and a second mode for use by the second profile category, wherein said first software application is provided by a first software provider and said second software application is provided by a second software provider different than the first software provider.

24. The device of claim 23 , wherein said profile information comprises information relating to an age of the current user or an age range of the current user.